Dick Grayson- Robin (i)
The youngest in a family of acrobats known as the "Flying Graysons", Dick watched his parents, John Grayson and Mary Lloyd Grayson, killed by a mafia boss to extort money from the circus that employs them. Bruce Wayne-Luthor was sitting in the stands of Star City watching the boys parents die in 1968.
Suspecting foul play Bruce became Batman to investigate. After saving Dick from the mafia, Bruce felt a connection almost instantly with the boy. While not yet twenty-seven, he adopted Grayson, and began training the boy to fight crime as he did.
While Dick was seeking a friend in Bruce, Batman found an agent he always wanted. Soon Gotham City, and Metropolis was being patroled by Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder. Throughout Dick's adolescence, Batman and Robin were inseparable, however , as Dick grew older and given more time as the protector of Metropolis, he decided to assert his independence and act alone as Robin in 1971.
Batman at first was angry that Dick was leaving him, but he knew it was for the greater good. Robin found himself in Star City and quickly made a name for himself. One night he met his end at the hands of the Joker. The battle lasted for hours, and by all signs Robins death lasted even longer. Every bone broken, and a ghastly smile upon his face.
Commissioner Gordon handled the investigation and lead a city wide hunt for the Joker, only to himself meet his end at the hands of the Joker. Robin's body was stolen from the city morgue. Six months later the Dick Grayson Memorial Hospital opened in honor for Bruce Wayne's adoptive son.
Jason Todd -Robin (ii)
In 1973 Bruce Wayne-Luthor was spending much of his time in Gotham City. Crime was up, and for the first time Batman was missing his old partner Robin. As his father Lex Luthor said, "The best allies are the ones you raise yourself," Bruce began thinking about his future. He had numerous girlfriends, but his time a Batman meant it was unlikely he would ever get married. So in effect if Bruce wanted an heir to the Batman he would have to find one himself.
Dick Grayson was off enjoying himself, and Bruce could not bring himself to call the man back. One night while on patrol Batman caught a young boy who was attempting to steal the tires of the Batmobile. The young man Jason Todd who was 13 years old, was perhaps the perfect choice for Batman. He had a rage, much like Bruce's within him, and a drive to improve himself.
Batman realizes that while Jason doesn't possess Dick Grayson's acrobatic skills, he can become a productive crimefighter by channeling his rage. He also believes that if he doesn't help the boy, Jason will eventually become part of the "criminal element." Following six months of training Todd expects to become the next Robin, but Batman instead gives his heir no name, and only a black costume.
Unlike Grayson Jason is impulsive, reckless, and full of rage. Even on missions in which Batman orders him to conduct surveillance, Jason attacks, ruining months of planning. Jason also uses excessive force to subdue criminals. When asked to "hold off" villains, Jason instantly takes to firing at them with a gun, despite Batman's reluctance for firearms.
In an encounter with Two-Face, Jason encourages Batman to abandon Harvey Dent in a lethal situation. During the infamous Croc Dumpster Killings, Jason implies that he believes lethal force to be acceptable when dealing with criminals. After a series of violent sexual assualts Batman believes Jason actually allowed, or caused the death of a rapist who evades criminal charges due to his father's status as a diplomat. What really happened is never revealed, although Jason later denies any wrongdoing, claiming that the man fell off a roof rather than having been pushed.
When Dick Grayson died in 1978 Batman gave the mantle of Robin to Jason Todd. Jason thought it was an honor, Bruce realized he would be worthless as Batman. While Todd believes Bruce sees him as a son, and eventual holder of the Batman title the truth is Jason is simply an agent of the Bat. Over time Jason felt to be ignored, but as Robin he tried as hard as he could to gain his mentor's approval.
In 1989 Jason had had enough. At twenty nine, the man moved from Gotham City to Keystone City. He still was Robin, and Bruce kept funding him, but not to the extent he once had. In 1991 Jason took his mask off for the last time, and found a job as a police officer. Life was good to the man, who married the Mayor's daughter, and moved to the rich side of town.
Tim Drake- Robin (iii), Red Robin
Tim Drake was the son of John and Wendy Drake. He went to private school, was the star of the track team, and had a good life. Some found the 13 year old odd in his constant following of superheroes, the heroes of Keystone City in particular.
One day while reading up on Robin, who Tim suspected was the second due to the less graceful moves compared to Star City's Robin. It was 1993 and while taking the trash out Tim witnessed his neighbor Jason Todd, a nice enough fellow who had married the Mayor's daughter years ago, flip from the second story roof onto the ground.
Jason played it off as an old skill, but Tim was instantly familar with the move. Over the next few months Tim watched Jason constantly noting that even in his late 30's the man had skills that a police officer would never learn. Finally Tim could take no more and broke into the Todd's house. He searched around, and was discovered by Jason who had come home early.
At first furious Tim pleaded with Jason that he knew who he was. Jason calmly sat down and asked Tim to explain everything. The young man laid out various piece sof information which pointed at Jason Todd as Robin. Impressed Jason showed Tim his old costume. The two spoke for hours, and when the night was over Jason had agreed to train the boy.
Although Jason is very reluctant to have another boy take the path he did, he grudgingly agrees that the boy has potential and then begins an extended training period in which Tim endures years of physical, mental and psychological tests.
By the age of 16 Robin reappeared over the skyline of Keystone City. While Tim is the first to admit he is not as physically skilled as Dick, or Jason, but his naturally high intellect allows him to excel in computer science and more importantly as a skilled detective. His ability to deduce the secret identities of superheroes on his own has been used to underscore his skill. Furthermore, Tim apparently has a firm grasp of assorted scientific techniques including biology, engineering andis also a brilliant and experienced strategist with impressive leadership skills.
In 1998 at the age of 18 Tim changed his name, and costume to distance himself from Batman, who he never knew, and became the Red Robin. Smart, skilled, and highly motivated Tim is the hero that many hope to one day become.
The Sons of Batman
In 1981 Lex Luthor escaped from the Phantom Zone. He was amazed to see what his bussiness had become, and even more amazed at what Bruce had become. Cold, calculating, and utterly ruthless to any who stood in his way, Lex was proud of the only man who he called son.
Batman explained his difficulty of continuing his crusade against crime, and Lex presented him with a small vial of blood which he took into the Phantom Zone so many years ago. Bruce Wayne-Luthor was told to examine it and try to copy it for it would give him the best heir imaginable, as Lex left to continue on whatever plot he was on. Bruce was tempted to tell his adoptive father how silly such a thing was, but kept it to himself.
In the years the Lex was in the Phantom Zone, Wayne-Luthor had become the forerunner in genetic engineering. Using the blood Batman secretly went about creating a clone using the US governments Project Cadmus. Dr. Johnny Gabrielli, head of the project, had gone through almost a dozen imperfect, or Bizarro clones before it was discovered just who had supplied the blood.
Bruce stopped the project, and sent the scientists around the world in hopes of burying the taint of Superman. Bruce hated Superman, thanks to a life under Lex Luthor, and the Man of Steel responsible for sending his adoptive father away. As time went on Bruce began thinking, and created the project himself. While pure DNA always failed it was discovered that mixing in human DNA allowed it to stablize.
Batman seemingly disappeared from public life for a year, and Bruce Wayne-Luthor was rarly seen in public. By 1982 Bruce had eight clones ready, but he refused to go on before enhancing them more. He selected two, Thomas, and Alexander. The poor genes where cast away, Alexander was given all the genes that made man great, and Thomas as much of the Kryptionian as possible. The boys where aged with hormones, steriods, and various chemicals, so in 1983 Bruce Wayne-Luthor had his two sons.
The world willingly accept that a rich, powerful man would hide his family from the world. A random woman was chosen, and Bruce made it look like she died from cancer the year before. The boys Thomas, six, Alexander, eight, had memories implanted to give them a happy childhood, utter loyalty to Bruce, and most importantly respect for Batman.
In 1991 Bruce, who was 49, told his sons who he was, and what was expected of them. Alexander was to become Batman and roam the night, fighting crime in the shadows. Thomas, who was jsut beginning to show his powers, was to become the Guardian and move about the day saving the world. The two trained, worked together, and in time seemed to overshadow even their father.
In 1997 Bruce Wayne-Luthor hung up his cowl, Alexander, and Thomas Wayne-Luthor took their place as Batman (ii), and the Guardian.